Baptist Levinz
Encyclopedia
Baptist Levinz, sometimes Baptiste or Baptist Levinge, (died 1692) was an Anglican churchman. He is known as a bishop and also for the part he played in the dramatic election at Magdalen College, Oxford
.
, Northamptonshire
, the youngest son of William Levinz, and brother of the judge Creswell Levinz and academic William Levinz
. He matriculated at Magdalen Hall, Oxford on 11 April 1660, and was elected demy of Magdalen College on 29 July 1663, and probationer fellow on 1 August 1664. He graduated B.A. in 1663, M.A. in 1666, B.D. in 1677, and D.D. in 1683.
In his academic career, he became junior dean in 1675, senior dean of arts in 1676, senior proctor on 5 April 1678, bursar in 1677, founder's chaplain in 1678, and dean of divinity in 1679. He was Whyte's professor of moral philosophy in the university from 27 March 1677 until 1682. As a churchman, on 8 December 1675 he was made prebendary of Wells, in 1680 curate of Horsepath, near Oxford, in 1682 rector of Christian Malford
, Wiltshire
, and on 15 March 1685 was consecrated Bishop of Sodor and Man
.
In 1687 he was a likely candidate for election as president of Magdalen College, instead of John Hough
, at a time when James II
was exerting influence on the college's choice. On the advice probably of his brother Sir Creswell Levinz, he withdrew his candidature before the election; the manner of his action was criticised as not honourable. In the account of John Rouse Bloxam
, the Vice-President and Fellows of Magdalen wrote on 31 March to Peter Mews
, as Bishop of Winchester
the college's Visitor; he replied the next day commending Levinz, and advising the fellowship to stick closely to the statutes. Levinz initially accepted and said he would resist the mandamus
of 5 April, by which James sought to impose his candidate Anthony Farmer
. But Levinz then withdrew, and later in April the college elected Hough.
On 3 August 1691 he was chosen prebendary of Winchester. He died of fever at Winchester on 31 January 1693, and was buried in Winchester Cathedral
. By his marriage, on 3 July 1680, to Mary (1663–1730), daughter of Dr. James Hyde, principal of Magdalen Hall, he was father of a son and daughter.
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
.
Life
He was born at EvenleyEvenley
Evenley is a village and civil parish just over south of Brackley in South Northamptonshire, England.-Geography:The parish is bounded by the River Great Ouse to the north-east, one of its tributaries to the north-west and on other sides by field boundaries. The parish's north-eastern boundary is...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
, the youngest son of William Levinz, and brother of the judge Creswell Levinz and academic William Levinz
William Levinz
William Levinz, doctor of medicine and Regius Professor of Greek at Oxford University, was President of St John's College, Oxford from 1673 until 1698.-References:...
. He matriculated at Magdalen Hall, Oxford on 11 April 1660, and was elected demy of Magdalen College on 29 July 1663, and probationer fellow on 1 August 1664. He graduated B.A. in 1663, M.A. in 1666, B.D. in 1677, and D.D. in 1683.
In his academic career, he became junior dean in 1675, senior dean of arts in 1676, senior proctor on 5 April 1678, bursar in 1677, founder's chaplain in 1678, and dean of divinity in 1679. He was Whyte's professor of moral philosophy in the university from 27 March 1677 until 1682. As a churchman, on 8 December 1675 he was made prebendary of Wells, in 1680 curate of Horsepath, near Oxford, in 1682 rector of Christian Malford
Christian Malford
Christian Malford is a small village in the county of Wiltshire in England. The unusual name is evidently a corruption of Christ mal Ford, Old English moel, mal being a mark: "Christ’s mal" is Christ’s mark or sign, the cross. The name signified "Cross Ford". Deeds from Glastonbury Abbey cartulary...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, and on 15 March 1685 was consecrated Bishop of Sodor and Man
Bishop of Sodor and Man
The Bishop of Sodor and Man is the Ordinary of the Diocese of Sodor and Man in the Province of York in the Church of England. The diocese covers the Isle of Man. The see is in the town of Peel where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of St German, elevated to cathedral status on 1...
.
In 1687 he was a likely candidate for election as president of Magdalen College, instead of John Hough
John Hough (bishop)
John Hough was an English bishop. He is best known for the confrontation over his election as President at Magdalen College, Oxford that took place at the end of the reign of James II of England.-Life:...
, at a time when James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
was exerting influence on the college's choice. On the advice probably of his brother Sir Creswell Levinz, he withdrew his candidature before the election; the manner of his action was criticised as not honourable. In the account of John Rouse Bloxam
John Rouse Bloxam
John Rouse Bloxam was an English academic and clergyman, the historian of Magdalen College, Oxford.-Life:Born at Rugby on 25 April 1807, he was the sixth son of Richard Rouse Bloxam, D.D. , under-master of Rugby School for 38 years, and rector of Brinklow and vicar of Bulkington, both in...
, the Vice-President and Fellows of Magdalen wrote on 31 March to Peter Mews
Peter Mews
Peter Mews was an English Royalist theologian and bishop.-Life:Mews was born at Caundle Purse in Dorset, and was educated at the Merchant Taylors' School, London, and at St John's College, Oxford, of which he was scholar and fellow.When the Civil War broke out in 1642, Mews joined the Royalist...
, as Bishop of Winchester
Bishop of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and...
the college's Visitor; he replied the next day commending Levinz, and advising the fellowship to stick closely to the statutes. Levinz initially accepted and said he would resist the mandamus
Mandamus
A writ of mandamus or mandamus , or sometimes mandate, is the name of one of the prerogative writs in the common law, and is "issued by a superior court to compel a lower court or a government officer to perform mandatory or purely ministerial duties correctly".Mandamus is a judicial remedy which...
of 5 April, by which James sought to impose his candidate Anthony Farmer
Anthony Farmer
Anthony Farmer was an Englishman nominated by King James II to the office of President of Magdalen College, Oxford in 1687.-Life:Farmer was admitted to St John's College, Cambridge in 1672, and migrated to Trinity College, Cambridge in 1675...
. But Levinz then withdrew, and later in April the college elected Hough.
On 3 August 1691 he was chosen prebendary of Winchester. He died of fever at Winchester on 31 January 1693, and was buried in Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral at Winchester in Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England, with the longest nave and overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe...
. By his marriage, on 3 July 1680, to Mary (1663–1730), daughter of Dr. James Hyde, principal of Magdalen Hall, he was father of a son and daughter.